“When he went off his food and became quite pale, he was checked over again and doctors initially thought he was anaemic.

“But his condition deteriorated rapidly. I lifted him up one morning and when I put him down his legs gave way and he couldn’t stand.”

Kyle was taken to hospital in December and tests found he had a tumour in his chest. He was diagnosed with stage four of the rare cancer that affects around 100 children each year in the UK – usually under-fives.

Symptoms can vary but signs could include fever, pain in joints or bones, abdominal pain, bruising and weakness.

Nyree’s sister Belinda is a paediatric nurse at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children at Yorkhill, where Kyle was treated, but she took time off work so she could concentrate on supporting him as an auntie.

Belinda explained: “When we were told he had cancer, our world fell apart. We asked not to be told the prognosis. We didn’t know the likelihood of him surviving – we didn’t want to know at that stage because we decided to try to be positive and focused and we were convincing ourselves that Kyle would be fine.

“His cancer was very aggressive and his deterioration so rapid, we couldn’t believe it.”

Kyle underwent intense chemotherapy and blood transfusions. But the cancer was still in his body and had progressed too far to have surgery.

Kyle didn’t respond well to the next cycle of treatment as his tumours grew and a drug trial didn’t work.

“Our options were running out for him,” explained Belinda.

“We looked at treatments in other countries. But his disease had progressed and he was fighting a losing battle.”

Belinda and Nyree soon realised Kyle wanted to go home.

Kyle with brother Jamie and the family dog

“He kept saying ‘car’, which meant he wanted to go home,” said Belinda.

The family took him home so he could spend a week with them in June but he slipped away and died.

“He was happy at home and could play with his toys and could have friends and family come to see him – with excellent support from the hospital,” said Belinda.

After he died, the sisters sold some of Kyle’s toys to raise funds for the charity Neuroblastoma Children’s Cancer Alliance (NCCA), which funds access to treatment for children, research and promotes awareness of the disease.

Belinda added: “He’ll never fade from our memories but we wanted to do something to help other children as well.

“He couldn’t play with the toys any more, so it meant other children got to play with them and we raised some money for charity as well.”

His special teddies and his blanky comforter were buried with him and the family have kept his precious favourite bedtime nursery storybook.

“He was known for his smile throughout his wee short life because he smiled through everything. He could charm anyone if he looked at you with his big blue eyes – your heart would melt.

“His granny and mum and I have memory boxes with some of the special things,” said Belinda.

“We’re raising awareness, as well as funds for NCCA, because we want to help other children with this dreadful disease. It was a privilege to be part of Kyle’s life. I’m a paediatric nurse but when it happens on your own doorstep, it’s very difficult.

“I’ve seen my colleagues from a professional angle working alongside them and now I’ve seen them from the carer angle. And I’m really quite proud to work in Yorkhill because of the care Kyle received.

“All our children receive amazing care but because I was on the receiving end this time, the experience made me proud to work here.

“We look at it that Kyle came into this world to bring the family together and now he has a more important job to do somewhere else. But we’ll never forget him.”